Tape laying plow



June 27, 1967 R LAUNDER ET AL 3,327,484

TAPE LAYING PLOW Filed Jan. 14, 1965 8/0/4219 L14 (/A/DEQ EEN/EALMA/p52. PM 4/65 D PEI/EL 5Q.

725000255 va/v ZELL IN V EN TORS Afro/42m 5 United States Patent3,327,484 TAPE LAYING PLOW Richard L. Launder and Ernie L. Launder,Whittier,

Calif. (both H & L Tooth Co., P.O. Box 330, Montebello, Calif. 90640),and France D. Peveler, Downey, and Theodore E. von Zell, Whittier,Califi; said Peveler and Von Zell assignors to said Richard L. Launderand Ernie L. Launder Filed Jan. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 425,394 2 Claims.(Cl. 61-72.6)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A slit cutting plow on which is hinged anarrow housing providing a passageway in the form of an inverted Tthrough which is threaded and guided a plastic web, the web passingaround rollers in the casing, whereby the tape moves downwardly, thenforwardly and finally emerges from a discharge slot into the slit cut bythe plow.

This invention relates to tape laying plows. Utility companies, such astelephone, gas, electric and water companies are confronted with theproblem of damage to their buried lines resulting from excavating andgrading operations.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a plow which forms anopening in the ground into which a plastic strip is fed bearing indiciato warn those who might later dig in the area; the plastic strip beingdeposited along the course of the cable or pipe line after the line hasbeen laid and the trench has been backfilled.

A further object is to provide a tape laying plow which may be readilymounted on a conventional tractor, and which cuts a narrow slit, 'olfersminimum resistance to movement, and because the plastic tape isdeposited in a narrow slit, requires no further refilling operation.

A further object is to provide a rneans which expeditiously andinexpensively deposits a plastic tape in a vertical position whereby thecost of installation is minimal.

A further object is to provide a tape laying plow which, althoughparticularly adapted for use in conjunction with a cable or pipe layingoperation, may also be employed to mark or locate existing lines.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter,reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the tape laying plow.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken through 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged sectional view taken through 33 of FIGURE1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken within circle 4 of FIGURE1 with the cover plate removed to show the manner in which the tape isdeflected from a vertical travelling condition to a horizontallytravelling condition.

The tape laying plow includes a plow beam 1 which is in the form of arelatively narrow vertically disposed bar provided with suitableattachment means 2 so that the plow beam may be mounted in a verticalposition at the rear end of a tractor. The lower portion of the beam isprovided with a pointed forward edge 4 and its lower extremity extendsforwardly and downwardly and receives a replaceable tooth 5. Along itsrear edge the plow beam is provided with several pairs of hinge lugs 6.

Disposed rearwardly of the plow beam 1 is a tape guiding means 7 whichincludes a vertical guide structure 8 having a forward reinforcingflange 9 provided with forwardly directed hinge lugs 10 for connectionto the hinge lugs 6 by pins 11. The lower end of the vertical guidestructure 8 is joined to a horizontal guide structure 12. The tapeguiding means 7 comprising *both structures has a thicknesscorresponding to the plow beam 1 so that it may be drawn through theground in the slit cut by the plow beam.

The vertical guide structure is essentially a flat tube forming avertically extending slot or guideway 13. The horizontal guide structureis also essentially a fiat tube having a horizontal extending slot orguideway 14 intersected by the guideway 13. One side of the horizontalguide structure may be provided with a cover plate 15.

Extending diagonally across the horizontal guideway 14 and in alignmentwith the vertical guideway 13 is an angular sheeve bar 16. Thehorizontal guideway 14 extends forwardly of the vertical guideway 13 andits forwardly extending portion is provided with a vertical sheeve bar17.

The upper end of the vertical guide structure 8 is provided with a pairof upwardly extending brackets 18 which support a horizontal reel shaft19 which supports a tape reel 20. One of the brackets 18 is providedwith an adjustment screw having a friction pad at its inner end so as toengage the tape reel and form a brake 21.

The rearward or exit end of the guideway 14 is reduced in Width to forma narrow slit 22 which supports the tape in a vertical edgewiseposition. To minimize entrance of dirt into the slit 22, a pair offlexible wiper plates 23 may be mounted at the rear end of thehorizontal guide structure.

The tape reel receives a plastic tape 24 which may be several inchesWide. Imprinted on the tape repeatedly is an appropriate warning notice,such as WARNING, CABLE BELOW. The tape is preferably conspicuouslycolored.

Operation of the tape laying plow is as follows:

After a cable of pipe line has been laid in a trench and the trench hasbeen backfilled, the tape laying plow is drawn by tractor in such amanner as to cut a narrow slit in the ground. This slit may have a depthof a foot or so. Initially, an end of the tape is pulled from the tapeguiding means and anchored in the ground.

Thereafter as the plow and tape guiding means move forwardly, the earthor ground closes the slit behind the tape guiding means so that theextended end of the tape is held and as the plow moves forward, is drawnfrom the tape reel 20. The tape, in moving from the reel to the exit endof the tape guiding means, passes around the angular sheeve bar 16 so asto change its course from a vertical to a horizontal direction and thenpasses around the vertical sheeve bar to change its course from aforward to a rearward direction.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown anddescribed, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of theconstruction set forth, but instead, the invention embraces suchchanges, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and theirrelationships as come within the purview of the appended claims,

We claim:

1. A tape laying plow, comprising:

(a) a narrow, vertical plow beam adapted for attachment to a tractor andhaving a forwardly directed point at its lower end, thereby to form anarrow, vertical slit when drawn through the ground;

(b) hinge means defining a vertical axis and disposed behind said plowbeam;

(c) a narrow, vertical housing essentially the same width as said plowbeam and connected thereto by said hinge means, said housing defining anarrow, vertical cavity, enlarged forwardly and rearwardly at its lowerportion to form an inverted T, said cavity 3 having an entrance openingat its upper end and a rearwardly directed vertical discharge slitadjacent its lower end;

(d) a first tape guide disposed at a 45 angle in the lower portion ofsaid cavity and in registry with the upper portion thereof;

(e) a second tape guide disposed vertically in the forward end of thelower portion of said cavity;

(f) and a tape reel at the top of said housing;

(g) said cavity dimensioned to guide a tape to said first tape guide,said first tape guide directing said tape forwardly to said second tapeguide, and said second tape directing said tape rearwardly through saiddischarge slit.

2. A tape laying plow, as defined in claim 1, wherein: (a) flexiblewiper blades are disposed at the exit end of said discharge slit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,750,054 3/1930 Rosso 6172.6 X

2,314,045 3/1943 Johnson 6l72.6

3,140,745 7/ 1964 Hinkle et a1.

3,182,459 5/1965 Grether et a1 6172.6 X

3,193,432 7/1965 Baines.

3,250,077 5/1966 Ede 61-72.6

ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner.

1. A TAPER LAYING PLOW, COMPRISING: (A) A NARROW, VERTICAL PLOW BEAMADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO A TRACTOR AND HAVING A FORWARDLY DIRECTEDPOINT AT ITS LOWER END, THEREBY TO FORM A NARROW, VERTICAL SLIT WHENDRAWN THROUGH THE GROUND; (B) HINGE MEANS DEFINING A VERTICAL AXIS ANDDISPOSED BEHIND SAID PLOW BEAM; (C) A NARROW, VERTICAL HOUSINGESSENTIALLY THE SAME WIDTH AS SAID PLOW BEAM AND CONNECTED THERETO BYSAID HINGE MEANS, SAID HOUSING DEFINING A NARROW, VERTICAL CAVITY,ENLARGED FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLY AT ITS LOWER PORTION TO FORM ANINVERTED T, SAID CAVITY HAVING AN ENTRANCE OPENING AT ITS UPPER END ANDA REARWARDLY DIRECTED VERTICAL DISCHARGE SLIT ADJACENT ITS LOWER END;